LESSON 9 I CAN FINISH THE RACE!

Power Phrase I can finish the race!

Memory Verse 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Supporting Doctrines For supporting doctrines, see our Statement of Faith at www.novoministries.org/statement-of-faith.

Goals The child will...

• Understand that he can follow through on what God has called him to do!

• Realize that if God has called him to do something, He will give him the ability to complete it!

• Choose to stay on the path God has for him to the very end!

Reminders The theme of this series is Run the Race. Throughout the series there will be discussions, activities, and

challenges physically. These are important because they will help the children better understand the application

to their spiritual “race.” This lesson focuses on finishing well, doing our best, and honoring God in all that we do.

Acknowledgements We want to express our gratitude to the volunteers who contributed ideas toward the development of this lesson:

Kristn Punjabi, Barbara Bingham, Dustin Gier, Ashley Robinson, Passion Bradley, Jewell Jackson, Daniel Weaver,

Janna Smith, and Kelly Anderson. All of our contributors work with the children of Oklahoma City’s inner city.

Thank you for the time you have invested in these children.

The stories and photos shared in the Gospel Presentation activities are used by permission of the individuals.

Additional Resources All Large Group or Small Group activity visuals or supply items followed by an asterisk ( * ) may be downloaded for

printing at www.novoministries.org/resource.

2 | AT A GLANCE

The Wedding Parable (Bible Story — Matthew 25:1-13) Visuals

• Bible Story Visuals*, “Cheer” and “Boo” Signs*

Supplies

• Bible, Bible Insert for Large Group*, lamp, oil

Captivate #1 - Props!

• Use items to help tell the story. You could use a lamp and some oil as a visual during the Bible Story.

Captivate #2 - Cheer!

• Choose two children to hold the “Cheer” and “Boo” signs. Throughout the Bible Story have the helpers hold

up the appropriate sign. This will help the children identify the positive and negative aspects of the story and

stay engaged.

Introduction

• Jesus often told stories called parables to help people understand spiritual truth. He wanted people to

understand that they didn’t know the time or day He would return for them, but they always needed to be

ready.

Story

• Retell the story from Matthew 25:1-13.

• See Bible Story Script.

Conclusion

• One day Jesus will return for those who have received forgiveness and asked Jesus to be the Lord of their

lives. Jesus was warning people that they did not know the time or hour He would return, so they always

needed to be prepared. They needed to live their lives so they would be ready for when Jesus returned.

Jesus’ message is also true for us; we need to be prepared and ready to finish the race!

Testimony • Share a time you were going to do something but weren’t prepared and missed out.

• Share a time you were able to complete something because you were prepared.

LARGE GROUP | 3

Challenge Visuals

• Key Point Visuals*, Power Phrase Visual*, Memory Verse Visual*

Supplies

• Bible, Bible Insert for Large Group*

Introduction

• In our Bible Story, we learned through the story that Jesus told the importance of being prepared and finishing

what we started. Some of the ladies waiting for the groom were prepared and when the groom arrived, they

were able to join the party. Sadly, the other ladies were not prepared. Their lack of planning caused them to

miss out on the thing that they were waiting for; they missed out on the party with the groom. We too need to

be prepared and do what is needed so we can finish the race.

Key Points

Fight the good fight!

• We can fight the good fight. The good fight is following God’s plan and purpose, honoring Him in all that we

do. This begins with asking Him to forgive our sins and be the Lord of our lives.

• 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and

about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Finish the race!

• It isn’t just about finishing the race but about finishing strong and pointing others to God in all that we do.

• The finish line is spending eternity with Jesus in Heaven. It is standing before God and hearing Him say, “Well

done, My good and faithful servant.” Our goal is to know that we did everything we could to honor Him in how

we lived.

• 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Keep the faith!

• Through all the trials and challenges we face, it is important to keep our eyes on Jesus and not be

discouraged or lose our faith. It is easy to be distracted or put other things before God. It is easy to get off

track from what God wants us to do.

• Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

4 | LARGE GROUP

Challenge (continued) Conclusion

If we are believers, we have a race that we are running, a plan that God has for our lives. With God’s strength and

His help, we can finish the race!

Invitation

For the unsaved child:

• Have you started the race with Jesus? Have you ask Jesus to forgive your sins and be the Lord of your life? He

wants to show you the plans He has for your life, and God sent His Son to die on the cross so you could

receive forgiveness for your sins. We have all sinned, and sin separates us from God (Romans 6:23a). Sin is

anything we think, say, or do that breaks God’s Law. Jesus paid the price for our sin; He became our Substitute

(2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Because of Jesus, we can admit we have sinned and ask Jesus to be the Lord of our lives (Romans 10:9).

• Invite the children to stay behind and talk to a leader if they have any questions or would like to ask Jesus to

forgive their sins and be the Lord of their lives.

For the saved child:

• How do you plan to finish the race? What do you want God to say to you when you stand before Him in

Heaven? We need to honor God each and every day with how we live.

• Encourage children to stay behind and talk to a leader if they have any questions.

LARGE GROUP | 5

Finish Line (Arriving Activity) Visuals

• Picture of a person crossing the finish line*

Instruction and Application

• As the children arrive, show them the picture of the person crossing the finish line. Ask the children if they

have ever run a race and crossed the finish line. How did it make you feel to complete the race? Did you feel

like you had accomplished something? Were you proud of yourself for not giving up? How would you have felt

if you had cheated or given up? Today we will talk about how we should run the race – not just how we finish,

but also how we get there.

• Review the Memory Verse with the children. 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the

race, I have kept the faith.”

6 | SMALL GROUP

Disqualified (Memory Verse)

Visuals

• Memory Verse Visual*, Illustrated Memory Verse Visual*, Picture of an athlete disqualified from an event*

Supplies

• Bible

A.G.A.I.N. Acrostic

A — Attention Grabber (Grab their attention with an interesting introduction and don’t let go!)

In our Bible Story we learned how the foolish ladies were unprepared as they waited for the bridegroom. They

wanted the wise ladies to give them some oil for their lamps instead of having been prepared to have their own

oil. In sports, we often hear of someone being disqualified because he broke the rules or cheated in some way.

Maybe he used performance drugs or took a short cut. Our Memory Verse tells us we need to fight the good fight,

finish the race, and keep the faith. This means we need to do things the right way, following the rules, and

honoring God in all we do.

G — God’s Word (Show them that the concept you are teaching them comes from the Bible.)

2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

A — Awareness (Make them “aware” of the words and concepts.)

Good fight — fought on God’s side, following God’s plans and purpose

Finish the race — lived the life God calls you to live, pursue what is right

Keep the faith — honored God and kept your eyes on Him in all things, trust His words

I — In Their Lives (Teach them to apply the lesson “in their lives.”)

Unsaved child (questions to ask an unsaved child)

Have you put your faith in God? Do you want to ask Jesus to forgive your sins and be the Lord of your

life?

Saved child (questions to ask a saved child)

Are you honoring God in how you live? Are you headed to the finish line?

N — Number of Times (Repeat the content again and again until the children understand it.)

Read from Scripture. Repeat after me. Play the Memory Game three or four times.

Memory Game

Play Me Then You. Review the Memory Verse together a couple times. Then explain to the children that while

your hands are up, you will say the words. When your hands are down, they will say the words. Rotate between

your hands being up and down to keep the children engaged and challenged to speak at the right time.

SMALL GROUP | 7

Just Do It (Gospel Presentation) Visuals

• “What’s Your Choice?” and “What to Do Now?” Foundational Gospel Truths Visuals*, Picture of Basheerah

Ahmad*

Supplies

• Bible, paper, writing tools

Instruction and Application

• Basheerah Ahmad grew up in a small town in Oklahoma in a family that loved God. At a young age Basheerah

asked Jesus to forgive her sins and be the Lord of her life. Later she graduated from the University of

Oklahoma and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in dance and entertainment. While in Los

Angeles, Basheerah encountered many negative pressures daily, but she continued to pursue and grow her

relationship with God.

• She had a successful career and moved on to starring in TV shows about fitness. She also became a personal

trainer to many celebrities. Eventually though Basheerah decided she wanted to leave California. She moved

to Atlanta, where she found a great church to be involved in and her relationship with God deepened.

• But after a while Basheerah felt God was leading her to move back to Oklahoma. She decided it was time to

serve people who needed her fitness knowledge and experience and not just those who could afford it.

Basheerah started a wellness business. She also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise money for

drinking water in Africa. God has given Basheerah many opportunities to share the Gospel and make a

difference in people’s lives.

• Just like Basheerah, we need to choose to accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives. It won’t mean life will always

be easy, but it will mean God will always be there to help us finish the race. Use the “What’s Your Choice?”

Visual to review.

• We too can use opportunities in our lives to tell others about Jesus (Mark 16:15). Use the “What to Do Now?”

Visual to review.

Discussion

• Older Team: Have the children talk about things they can do to make a difference in the world and their

neighborhood.

• Younger Team: Have the children practice telling a friend about Jesus and how much He loves them.

• Quiet Team: Have the children draw a picture of ways they can show God’s love to others.

• Active Team: Have the children role play a situation where they are telling someone about Jesus.

8 | SMALL GROUP

Flashback (Review Questions) Supplies

• Review Questions*

Large Group Story Review Questions

• Why did Jesus tell a parable? (To help the people understand a spiritual truth)

• Who was preparing the wedding party? (The bridegroom)

• How many ladies were waiting? (Ten)

• How many wise and how many foolish ladies were there? (Five of each)

• What made some of the ladies wise? (They had come prepared and had oil for their lamps.)

• What made some of the ladies foolish? (They had not prepared and had no oil for their lamps.)

• What happened when the ladies had to wait a long time? (They fell asleep.)

• What happened when it was announced the bridegroom was coming? (The foolish ladies had to leave to get

oil for their lamps.)

• Who was able to go to the wedding feast? (The wise ladies)

• What was the point of the parable? (We don’t know when Jesus will return, so we must always be ready.)

Discussion Questions

• How can we live prepared for Jesus to come?

• What are things that can distract us from being ready for Jesus’ return?

SMALL GROUP | 9

Oil Lamp (Craft)

Visuals

• Craft sample*

Supplies

• Oil Lamp Template* (one per child), thin paper plate (one per child), stapler, scissors, coloring tools

Instruction and Application

• Give each of the children an Oil Lamp Template and have them cut out the template. Next have them fold the

paper plate in half and trace the template onto the plate. Then have them cut out the oil lamp and staple the

flame as shown in the craft sample. Finally, have them color the lamp and staple the seams together. Remind

the children that just like the wise ladies in the parable, they should be prepared and ready to finish the race.

• Review the Memory Verse with the children. 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the

race, I have kept the faith.”

10 | SMALL GROUP

What’s The Point? (Application Activities) Supplies

• “What’s the Point?” card*, paper, writing tools

Activity #1

• Give each of the children a “What’s the Point?” card. Remind them of the physical goal you set to reach by the

end of the curriculum series. Have the children discuss how their weekly challenge went the past week and

what improvements they have seen. What difficulties did they run into? Remind them that through training,

discipline, and hard work we can reach our goals. Discuss how the physical challenge will help them reach

their long-term goal. Set a new physical challenge for the coming week.

Activity #2

• Have the children discuss what they learned about how we need to finish the race God has set out for us.

Have them write something they can do this week to help them be able to finish the race well.

Now What? (Additional Activity) Supplies

• Additional Activity #1: Coloring Page*

• Additional Activity #2: Hidden Word Activity Page*

• Additional Activity #3: Crossword Activity Page*

• Additional Activity #4: The Big Take Away Key Chain*

Instruction and Application

• These activities are to be used with your team as time fillers while reinforcing the lesson concepts. The

children can take these home each week or do them while they are listening to you teach during Small Group.

These activities require little to no explanation and can be great for moments when you are transitioning or

don’t have time to start another activity.

SMALL GROUP | 11

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